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E. VEDDBR. DECORATIVE STRUCTURE.

Patented Apr.17

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DECORATIVE STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,100, dated April 17, 1883. v

' Applicationfiled Novemberlfi, 1882. (Nomodeld (To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ELIHU VEDDER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Decorative Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of ornamental structures composed of blocks or studs of vitreous or other ornamental material and supported in one plate to form a curtain sheet or panel; and it consists in the modes of formingthe supporting-frame, offorming the blocks to fit and be supported by the latter, and of making the blocks so as to secure a brilliant illuminating or decorative effect.

In the drawings,Figure l is a view illustrating one construction of the frame of fiat strips. Fig. 2 is a view showing the frame as made of straight wires. Fig. 3 shows the frame of crossed and twisted wires supporting transparent, translucent, or opaque blocks. Fig. 4 is a detail view, showing a mode of uniting the crossed strips. Fig. 5 is a face view of adecorative screen or panel. Fig.6 is a perspective view of one of the blocks. Fig. 7 is aface view of a panel with the blocks concealing the frame. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the manner of combining blocks of different forms. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are views illustrating a mode of making the blocks. Fig. 13 shows a mode of applying my invention.

My invention relates, first, to theframe-work or foundation; secoud,to the construction ofthe studs or blocks for attachment to the foundation; and, third, to the construction of studs with the view of securing a brilliant illuminating effect.

In place of making the foundation 'of a sheet of material perforated for the insertion of the studs, Iconstruct it of separate wires or strips in the form of a lattice, as shown in Fig. 1, in which flatstrips a, of metal or other material, are plaited together to leave openings at, or wires may be so arranged, as in Fig. 2, or wires may be twisted together, as shown in Fig. 3, and the wires or strips may be united to form openings 00 at regular intervals, of uniform sizes and shapes, or at irregular intervals, and of varying sizes and shapes, according to the character of the structure to be produced. When flat strips are used they may be connected at crossing points by slitting one to form a lip, c, Fig. 4, t0 fit into an opening, 0,

in the other, and the end strips ofthe lattice or frame may be held in place by bending the ends to of the cross pieces around such end strips, as shown in Fig. 5. The strips may be.

of different cross-sectional formsround, as in Fig.2, flat, as in Fig. 5, or otherwise-and, being separate, the structure can be built up to any required extent bycombining the strips and studs.

The blocks or studs 13 may be of any desired shapes and dimensions, and with grooves i, Fig. 6, at two or more of the sides, to receive the strips or cross pieces of the frame, such grooves being so shallow as to expose part of the frame between adjacent blocks, as shown in Fig. 5, or so deep as to wholly cover the crosspieces, as shown in Fig. 7. In some cases, when the lattice is made of wires, blocks B may be perforated transversely in one or both directions, to receive connecting-wires. The blocks may be ofany desired ornamental con figuration, solid, as in 'Fig. 8, or open, as at B in Fig. 9, and may be combined with rings or smaller blocks or forms.

It is well known that a much more brilliant effect is produced when the surface of a block through whichlight is transmitted is irregular, presenting different angles. For this reason such blocks have been molded and ground with irregular faces. I have found that a much more brilliant effect is produced by having a surface resulting from an irregular fracture of the glass. capable of being separated into sections constituting the blocks; or I mold the blocks with projections, which may be broken off without danger of fracturing the m ai n bod y of the block. Thus a bar, D, Fig. 10, of glass or other frangible material, may be molded so that sections, Fig. 11, broken off, will constitute blocks of the desired shape with fractured surfaces; or blocks may be molded with projections (7, full and dotted lines, Fig. 12, which are easily broken off, forming irregular faces y, which pro duce an intense and brilliant effect that cannot be obtained by any artificial surface.

I claim- 1. The combination, in a decorative structure, of a lattice or frame consisting of separate strips or bars combined to form openings m, and studs of ornamental material inserted in such To secure this surface I form bars openings and retained by the strips, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination,in an illuminated struct ure, of a frame composed of strips arranged to form openings m, and studs with grooves receiving the strips, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,in an illuminated structure, of a frame composed of a series of united and crossed strips and blocks recessed at the to edges to receive such strips, substantially as specified.

4. The within-described improvement in making vitreous blocks for illuminated structures, the same consisting in forming the blocks with 15 projections and then breaking them 011' to form fractured faces to the blocks, substantially as set forth.

5. A block for illuminated structures, constructed of vitreous material, constructed for attachment to a frame or support, and having 20 Witnesses: v

HENRY GILSEY, JOSEPH HARDCASTLE. 

